BL-2 Lights

[Steve Ford]

I'm working on a Proto 2000 BL-2 and had a question about detailing it for the transition era (late 40's early 50's).  The model comes with a lot of grab irons, but it looks like the early Monon's BL-2s didn't have grab irons.  They seem to have been added at a later time.  I've also noticed that the BL-2 at the Kentucky Railroad Museum has dual head lights, but early pictures show only a single headlight.  Did the early BL-2's have both headlights inside a single lens cover, or just a single headlight inside the lens cover?  Finally, the BL-2 has four "running lights", one one each corner.  On the model, they are just molded on.  I've seen someone drill them out and install LEDs.  I tried this, and installed 4 red LEDs.  After words, I was told that only the front or rear sets would be lit at any one time.  Further research led me to pictures of other train lines running BL-2s with white lights in those positions.  Does any one know what color of lights would have been in those positions and how they were used on the Monon?  I think I'm beginning to spiral into "too much information" analysis paralysis. :-)

Thanks,

Steve Ford

[Ron Marquardt]

Steve, can't help you with the grab irons question,  but the headlights had a single light in the housing.  The "running lights" which are correctly termed "class lights" are a bit more complicated, but perhaps I can give you a short explanation.

These lights, both front and rear, could display three different colors, white, green, and red.  The lights, when required by the rules, were normally turned on only on the leading end of the lead locomotive in the consist.  White indicated an "extra" train (one not on a timetable schedule), green indicated that it was a "regular train", but that another section of the same regular train was following. 

The red light was another animal entirely.  It would only have been displayed to the front in cases of emergency,  but would have more often been used on the rear of a locomotive or consist as marker lights if the locomotives were running as a train without cars (light locomotives).

In all cases corresponding white, green, and red flags would have also been displayed.

Let me give you a little example that might be easier to understand.  Let's say they are running Train #73 in two sections, and you leave Lafayette headed for Bloomington with the first section.  You would display green lights (and green flags) on the front of the leading unit which indicates there's another section following.

You get to Bloomington and they need the engine consist back to Lafayette asap, so they run you back north as an extra.  You would display white lights to the front on the leading unit (which was the trailing unit going south), and since you have no cars or caboose, you would display the red lights on the rear of the rear unit to act as marker lights.

Regularly scheduled trains, of course, did not display any class lights to the front or rear during normal train operations.  / Ron

PS, I would also suggest you consider getting a copy of the Profiles & Station Names CD sold by our Stores Dept. which contains the last version of the Monon Operating Rule book.  It is a wealth of good information about prototype operations.

[Steve Ford]

Thanks for the info.  My next question was going to be if there was a reference book with all this information, and you already answered it for me.

Thanks again,

Steve

[Steve Dolzall]

When new, the BL-2 did not have nose grab irons. Also when delivered, they had the Lowey "indian head" herald rather that the wheel on rail herald used on the Proto model.

Steve

[Mike Aufderheide]

Steve,

You might look up the Mont Switzer article in Model Railroader about back-dating the BL-2 to 1952.  It had a lot of helpful hints.  I used these tips plus added some things to model an as-delivered model of #34 which included moving the horns to the top of the cab and making flat rails to represent a unit before MU connections were added.  See attached.

One note, although the first delivery had the Loewy ball, I think the second delivery of these units in 1949 had the wheel on rail herald;  this would be #s 36-38. See attached for what I think is a builder's photo.  The horns are still covered.  Note that this engine has MU connections already and the horns located per the model. 

Your marker light project is interesting.  Must be some way to control them with the right decoder?  Will you use different LEDs for the different colors?  Sounds cool.

If you need more photos for reference let me know.

Regards,

Mike Aufderheide

[Steve Ford]

I think I'm just going to put red lights in the back, and white in the front.  Then attach the red and white lights to separate functions.  I'm waiting on some white lights to show up in the mail to finish it up.  What color of paint does everyone use for the gold on the black and gold scheme?  I'm trying to stick with either Tru-Color, or Vallejo Air paints.

Thanks,

Steve

[Mike Aufderheide]

Steve,

In the "good old days" (last year!!)  it would have been a 50/50 mix of Floquil "Bright Silver" and "Bright Gold".  I see that Tru Color has some that look close.

Regards,

Mike Aufderheide